Rusty Jordan, a high school teacher at a juvenile detention center, and his wife Emily, who teaches at a traditional high school, recently made a life-changing decision. When Emily's father decided to retire, they stepped in to take over his Seniors Helping Seniors franchise in Shelbyville, Indiana. Despite their backgrounds in education and real estate, Rusty and Emily saw an opportunity to make a difference in senior care by helping people stay comfortably in their homes. 

Now, they’re navigating a new path as business owners from a distance, balancing their day jobs in Washington with their responsibilities in Indiana. Their goal is to create a supportive environment for seniors and caregivers alike.

1851 Franchise spoke to Rusty about his franchise journey with Seniors Helping Seniors and the couple’s plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Rusty Jordan: I'm married and have three children. My kids are ages 20, 14 and 11. I’m a high school teacher at a juvenile detention center, while my wife teaches at a traditional high school. Besides our day jobs, we’re also involved in real estate, managing rental properties, and buying and selling houses. We got into Seniors Helping Seniors because my father-in-law, Emily's dad, started the business 11 years ago. When he decided to retire, he offered it to us. After looking everything over, we decided to buy it and enter the home health care business.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Jordan: I had a good understanding of this particular franchise before we purchased it, thanks to my father-in-law, who owned the business previously. He had a solid grasp of what Seniors Helping Seniors does and how the franchise operates, so I knew quite a bit going in. My views on franchising haven’t really changed — I had positive thoughts about it before, and I still do. It’s pretty much aligned with what I envisioned, especially the idea that having the support of a national corporation can be really beneficial, no matter what kind of business you're running.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Jordan: I think it’s a necessary service. When my grandmother got older, she needed more help at home, and fortunately, our family could provide that support. But I know that's not the case for everyone; it can be much more challenging for some. So, having a service where people come in to help seniors stay at home is invaluable. My grandmother was adamant about staying at home — she didn’t want to go to a nursing home. I know many people feel the same way, preferring the comfort of their own homes.

It’s a valuable service because it’s an economical way to provide care. Seniors can receive as much or as little assistance as they need, depending on their current situation, and they can adjust as needed. Those aspects really attracted me to Seniors Helping Seniors and I truly appreciate the services they offer.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Jordan: Since we still live in Washington State, while the business is here in Indiana, we decided that our management team and employees here will run things. We’re going to oversee, work with them, and provide what they need to be successful. This week, while I’m here, we’re also planning to come up with a business plan for the next year, including specific goals and ways we can grow. We’re looking at expanding into neighboring counties within our region that we’re not servicing as much as we could. So those are some of the things we’re focusing on.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Jordan: So, it wasn’t something I had ever thought about doing. I mean, I was curious about the business over the years, and we discussed it, but I hadn’t considered owning a home health care business until he asked if we were interested. As a teacher, I’ve always focused on working with young people at the start of their lives. This has been a shift, moving to the other end — helping people after retirement as they transition through later stages of life. That’s what’s different about this role compared to what I’ve done and still do in teaching.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Jordan: I think with any business — not just Seniors Helping Seniors — it’s important to really understand the business, know what you want from it and assess how much risk you’re willing to take. You need to ask yourself how risk-averse you are, how much time you plan to spend and what role you envision for yourself. For us, buying a business in Indiana while we’re based in Washington meant we’d need to rely on the existing management team and employees. We’re really stepping in as owners rather than day-to-day managers.

If we lived in Shelbyville, we might have treated it more like a job, coming into the office daily to handle the operations. But given the distance, we have to trust our team to manage the day-to-day. In our real estate business, we’re hands-on with every decision, but here, we have to trust the people we’ve put in place to act in the best interests of our clients, caregivers and the business as a whole.

If you’re considering getting into this business, I’d say it’s essential to ensure that your team is trustworthy, hardworking and aligned with your values. We’re still figuring things out since we just bought the business in August.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.